Artie does it again in 'Artie And The Green Eyed Woman" by Jan Christensen

Another in the series from “The Artie Crimes” by Jan Christensen finds Artie yet again attempting to slip into the night with the jewelry he just lifted from a jewelry store. A quiet getaway on foot down a dark alley is foiled when he bumps into a woman who has been waiting for him in the shadows. She has a gun and a job for him. She wants him to pick the lock of a door across the alley.

When a woman points a gun at you there really isn’t much choice. Artie picks the lock and is about to be safely on his way according to the woman. Unfortunately for Artie, a sudden serious complication will mean the green-eyed woman is going to need more help. A lot more help.

Texas author Jan Christensen has written another complex and occasionally amusing tale of Artie, the jewel thief, and his wife, Josie. Who is the green-eyed woman and what is she really after are just two of many questions in this very good short story published by Untreed Reads. By now, one has a good sense of the main character and his wife, so the focus is the complications. They come at a steady pace in a story where nothing is as simple as it first appears.

This is the third short story to feature the likeable jewel thief Artie. If you have not read the first one “Artie And The Long-Legged Woman” you really should. While you are at it, you should also read the author’s novel, Sara’s Search, which came out years ago. Very good stuff and I highly recommend it as I did years ago when I read it.